US3789750A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for reconstituting dry potato agglomerates into potato dough
Assignee: Basic American Foods
•
Filing: 1970-09-04
•
Granted: 1974-02-05
•
Expires: 1990-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A machine for forming from potato dough elongate bodies that resemble potato pieces suitable for french frying. The machine is arranged to move the dough through spaces between a set of parallel wires, which wires are spaced from one another by amount corresponding to the width of the piece. The length of the spaces determines the length of the potato piece. A second set of parallel wires is supported in registry with the first mentioned set during dough movement; after the dough is moved by an amount corresponding to the thickness of a french fry body, the wires of the second set are moved across the dough to separate potato pieces suitable for french frying. A machine for automatically synchronizing the movement of the dough and the movement of the second set of wires. A french fry potato piece formed by the apparatus which piece is characterized by an uncompressed surface.
Inventors
- 👤 D Richins
- 👤 J Lack
- 👤 J Harman
- 👤 M Shatila
- 👤 R Beck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:36
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C11/00; A21C11/16; A23; A23L; A23L19/00; A23L19/10; A23L19/12; A23L19/18; A23L19/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for effecting reconstitution of agglomerates of dehydrated potato particles comprising an elongate chamber having a generally axially directed outlet opening and a radially directed inlet opening spaced longitudinally from said outlet opening, means forming a liquid impervious partition across said outlet opening, means for depositing in said chamber through said inlet opening a fixed volume of agglomerates, means for introducing into said chamber through said inlet opening a fixed volume of water, the volume of said chamber being greater than the combined fixed volume of agglomerate and water, means for consolidating the agglomerates and water into a smaller chamber volume bounded in part by said partition and said consolidating means so that said fixed volume of water substantially totally fills the available voids in and between said fixed volume of agglomerates when consolidated into said smaller chamber volume, and means for sequentially activating said consolidating means, said agglomerate depositing means and said water introducing means so that said fixed volume of water is forced to fill the available voids in and between said fixed volume of agglomerates when occupying said smaller chamber volume before the agglomerates and water set up as a dough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for effecting reconstitution of agglomerates of dehydrated potato particles comprising an elongate chamber having a generally axially directed outlet opening and a radially directed inlet opening spaced longitudinally from said outlet opening, means forming a liquid impervious partition across said outlet opening, means for depositing in said chamber through said inlet opening a fixed volume of agglomerates, means for introducing into said chamber through said inlet opening a fixed volume of water, the volume of said chamber being greater than the combined fixed volume of agglomerate and water, means for consolidating the agglomerates and water into a smaller chamber volume bounded in part by said partition and said consolidating means so that said fixed volume of water substantially totally fills the available voids in and between said fixed volume of agglomerates when consolidated into said smaller chamber volume, and means for sequentially activating said consolidating means, said agglomerate depositing means and said water introducing means so that said fixed volume of water is forced to fill the available voids in and between said fixed volume of agglomerates when occupying said smaller chamber volume before the agglomerates and water set up as a dough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said chamber is oriented in a generally horizontal position and wherein said partition forming mEans includes a body of dough disposed in said chamber and extending from said outlet opening to a site approximately midway between said outlet opening and said inlet opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said consolidating means comprises a plunger longitudinally slideable in said chamber past said inlet opening and toward and away from said outlet opening, and means for driving said plunger between a load position at which the plunger resides adjacent the edge of the inlet opening remote from said outlet opening to admit material into the chamber between the plunger and said partition forming means and a consolidating position at which the plunger resides between the inlet opening and the partition to define a closed volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said driving means is adapted so that the smaller chamber volume defined when said plunger is in the consolidating position is approximately equal to the volume defined between said partition forming means and said outlet opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The invention of claim 3 in combination with means disposed adjacent said outlet opening for separating dough egressing from said chamber into french-fry-cut pieces, means for moving said plunger from said consolidating position to a discharge position midway between said outlet opening and the position of said plunger in said consolidating position, and means for inhibiting operation of said plunger moving means for a time delay period sufficient to hold said plunger in said consolidating position until the agglomerates and water in said chamber have set up to a firm dough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said chamber is disposed so that the longitudinal axis thereof resides in a horizontal position, wherein said depositing means is adapted to deposit said quantities of agglomerates and water as to leave along the top of said chamber a longitudinally extending air vent passage, and wherein the apparatus includes means for defining a levelling edge adjacent the outlet opening of said chamber, said edge lying on a horizontal chord of said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 6, wherein said levelling edge defining means has a thickness so that it extends below the top of said chamber by 5-16 inch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US252711A
Cited
US1218985A
Cited
US1738935A
Cited
US1890802A
Cited
US2311843A
Cited
US3459141A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |